61% of German men are ready to take up arms to defend their country in the event of an attack. This is according to the results of the annual survey conducted by the Bundeswehr.
In total, 42% of respondents said they would defend Germany with arms in the event of a military attack – three percent more than last year. However, this varies significantly by gender: 61% of men under 50 would take up arms, while only 21% of women surveyed would do the same.
Most respondents also have a positive view of the Bundeswehr. 57% support increasing the defense budget, and 58% are in favor of hiring more soldiers for the Bundeswehr. Regardless of the current security and defense situation, 85% of citizens surveyed expressed trust in the Bundeswehr.
The survey also explored attitudes towards the topic of “competence for war.” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius introduced this term to advocate for a tougher security policy.
During the debate, the potential restoration of universal conscription was also discussed. According to the Bundeswehr survey, 46% of respondents consider this necessary, while 25% are strongly opposed to compulsory military service. At the same time, 60% of respondents believe that reintroducing military service would strengthen the Bundeswehr’s defense capabilities.
The Bundeswehr surveyed nearly 2,000 citizens as part of a representative poll. The public survey has been conducted annually since 1996 to measure social perceptions of the Bundeswehr among the population.
